Phil James

My first DGR - Hitchin 2024

Wednesday 14th May 2025

I heard about DGR a few years ago when some mates got dressed up to ride their bikes one Sunday and I thought it sounded cool – and a great cause to support. It didn't occur to me I might participate in the future. 

Last year, on my birthday, I bought my first motorcycle since my youth, a hard tail '66 Triumph Bonneville, with a view to take part in vintage beach races. I got my motorcycle licence on 1 May 2024, which turned out to be just in time for DGR2024 and I jumped on the Hitchin DGR at the last minute. 

More last minute than I had planned... The old Triumph is (or was) like a slow motion explosion with most rides resulting in something being missing by the time I returned home. Heading out to Hitchin, I thought the bike had started to sound slightly different. I looked down and saw one of the exhausts had departed. So I had to turn around, find my silencer, carry it back home to repair it, and set off a second time for Hitchin where I intercepted the ride within minutes of its start. The ride was brilliant and, thankfully, the old Bonneville behaved faultlessly for the rest of the day!

I'm Riding for Men's Health in The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride

Wednesday 14th May 2025 On Sunday the 18th of May 2025, I'm riding in The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride with fellow men and women across the globe to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer and men's mental health on behalf of Movember. Men die on average 6 years earlier than women and for largely preventable reasons. The number of men that are suffering is growing, and we need to do something about that. So, before I press my tweed and polish my boots, I'm asking you to join me in raising funds and awareness for these causes by donating what you can for this meaningful cause and to help the men we love, live happier and healthier lives.